Foldable side curtain



N. L. ABRAHAM FOLDABLE SIDE CURTAIN Filed Feb. 19,

INVENTOR July 27 1926.

Patented July 27,1926.

UNITED srares NATHAN LOUIS ABRAHAM, OE SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO.

FOLDABLE SIDE CURTAIN.

Application filed February This invention relates to the construction or assemblage of side curtains or the like commonly employed for detachable connection to and use on such devices as vehicle tops, and has particular reference to ourtains of the type indicated designed to carry plates of glass as transparencies and to be maintained in perfect form for the sake of appearance.

Among the objectsof the invention there fore is to provide a side curtain having a window light or its equivalent attached therein and with suitable reinforcement means that will insure the maintenance of the curtain in smooth comely form and appearance, and yet serve to protect the pane of glass from likelihood of beng broken, especially when the curtain is in idle position as when folded and nested away out of use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a side curtain construction having a window light of any suitable size or de sign, and irrespective of the design or construction of the frame work for supporting immediately the window pane, and yet providing for the close folding and safe backing of the curtain for housing or transportation purposes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate the same part-s in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one type or design of window curtain embodying my improvement.

ig. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible frame before being assembled with the curtain.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view indicating the folded form, the section being taken substantially on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1.

e-ferring now more particularly to the drawings I indicate a side curtain which may be thought of as applicable to theleft side of a vehicle body. The main portion 10 of the curtain is shown provided with a rectangular opening 11 into which is fitted by any suitable frame mechanism a plate of glass 12. Glass plates, it may be noted, are

19, 1925. Serial No. 10,206.

ordinarily preferable for the purpose indicated to strips or sheets of celluloid, mica, or other types of transparencies, especially because they are firmer, more reliable, and afford better vision as well as protection, sub ject, however, to the provision of suitable means to maintain the curtain in proper form when used and the plates of glass properly protected at all times.

The curtain is connectible to or disconnectible from the other portions of the carriage top, not shown, y any suitable separable fasteners including such devices as snap fastener 13 or their equivalent co-operating with studs in the usual manner. According to the usual experience, however, the weight of a plate of glass used as herein shown is too great because the curtain is disposed to sag and otherwise become distorted when hung upon the supporting means. To overcome this objectionable con dition I surround the plate of glass with a suitable frame 1a which is substantially rigid in use or in flat form, but which if desired may be so jointed or articulated as to be folded with the curtain into relatively small. space, the same as any other side curtain having no window pane.

The frame 14 herein shown conforms to the shape of the main portion of the side curtain l0 and is of approximately the same size, being but slightly smaller in area and so follows rather closely the margin of the curtain, being there y well spaced from the window light 12. The curtain may be made of one or a plurality of plies suitably stitched or otherwise secured to each other, in accordance with any well-known or approved construction, and the frame may be housed within a pocket 15 attached to or formed between the plurality of plies where by it is maintained in fixed position with respect to the curtain and the portion of the curtain extending across the space within the frame being thereby maintained in smooth flattaut condition. 3

In its preferred form the frame 14 is made up of several portions or parts jointed to gether, there being shown two vertical parallel bars 14*, to the upper and lower ends of which are articulated a pair of angularly formed or bent bars 14*. Each of the latter bars extends from below one corner of the frame to and beyond the opposite corner. Each bar 14 is hinged to the corresponding ends of the two bars 14; by any suitable so far as the presence of the Window paneis concerned; Moreover, the folded frame and curtain structure givesadded protec'- tion to the Window glass When in housed" position orcondition, the Window pane be ing Well surrounded as to its edges and suitably cushioned in directions perpendicular thereto. It follows also that the curtain-{may be folded into a space not much greater than the Windowpane itself. noted also" that the frame 14-01 its-equivalent may be made in any suitable size or formand with any'suitalole material such as meta-l or otherrigid material, according to the size, design, or construction of the curtain structure.- Moreover, While the frame 1s amply stiff and strong for the purposes'set forth, its Weight does not render the curtain unwieldy' or cumbersome to any appreciable degree.

It" Will be 1'; claim:

1'. The combination with a side curtain of flexible foldable material and a rigid Window structuresecured therein, of a reinforc ing frame surrounding the Window and pocketedlin the curtain structure, said frame being so jointed along axes proximate to the edges of the Window pane as to fold with the curtain into a compass of practically the same size as the Window pane, the frame comprising tWo straight parallel bars and two angle formed end bars With joints coaxially connecting the ends of each angle bar with the corresponding ends of the first mentioned bars.

2. The combination With a side curtain of flexiblefoldable material and a rigid Window construction secured therein, of a reinforcing frame surrounding the Window and secured to the curtain structure, said frame being so jointed along axes proximate to the edges of'tlie' Window pane as to fold With the curtain into a. compact mass, said frame comprising two substantially parallel bars and two" angle-formed end bars With coaxial joints'connecting the ends of each angle bar to the corresponding ends of the first mentioned bars.

In testimony whereofli aifix'my signature.

NATHAN LOUIS ABRAHAM. 

